Connecting device for sewing-machine attachments



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

CT.L. GRAY, CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SEWINGMACHINE ATTACHMENTS. N0.'540,812. Patented June 11, 1895.

(No Model!) i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. L. GRAY. CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINE ATTAGHMBNTS.

N0. 540,812. I Patented June 11, 1895.

60176 Q I by I g g I 6 [J $5507 7? e yi U ITED STATES PATENT Orrrce.

GEORGE L. GRAY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINE ATTACHMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,812, dated June 11, 1895.

Application filed December 2'7, 1892. Serial No. 456,464. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. GRAY, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connecting Devices for Sewing-Machine Attachments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a .full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to devices for removably connecting various kinds of sewing-machine attachments to the presser-feet of sewing-machines, thedevices being suitable for so connecting hemmers, tuck-markers and various other kinds of attachments.

The object ofmy invention is to produce connecting devices which shallj be simple, compact and durable in construction, and of such form and arrangement as to be quickly and easily secured to the presser-foot, and also such as to retain their connection with entire certainty against accidental displacement either by longitudinal or transverse strains.

To the above purposes my invention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as herein.- after described and claimed.

The more precise nature of my invention will be clearly understood when described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sewing-machine presser-foot with an attachment-connecting device embodying my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a. detached plan view of a connecting device embodying myinvention. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a detached plan view of a connecting device embodying a modified feature of construction. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a sewing-machine presser-foot having a further modified form of connecting device applied thereto. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is aplanviewofa presser-foot adapted ,to receive'the connecting device shown in a number of the preceding figures. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the presser-foot shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detached plan view of the attachment-connecting device shown in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 10

is a vertical longitudinal section of the connecting device, taken on the line 10 '10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 10 is a view similar to that of Fig. 10, but showing a further modification of construction. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a presser-foot with a still further modified form of the connecting device applied thereto. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig.- ll. I

Referring first to the construction illustrated in Figs. 1,2, 3, and 4 of the drawings, A designates thehorizontal outer arm of the attachment-connecting device, this outer arm being shown as of somewhat elongated form, and the intention being to attach a hemmer, tucker,.or other sewing-machine attachment to the outer end of the arm, either integrally or'by means of rivets or solder, or in any suitable manner. At its inner end, this arm A is shown as formed with an integral lateral offset a to the opposite end of which is integrally united an outwardly projecting lug A which extends practically parallel with the arm A, but which is much shorter than said arm.

-A? and A designate two spring arms or extensions which are integrally united by an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion a to the rear ends of the arm A and lug A, these spring-arms extending outward and normally slightly downward longitudinally away from the arm A and lug A. Near its outer end, each spring-arm A A is formed with a downwardly extending U-shaped bend a the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. It is to be observed that the two spring-arms A and A also converge toward each other, from their inner to their outer ends, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4; the purpose of such convergence being also hereinafter explained.

B designates a sewing-machine presser-foot, and B the shank or tubular portion thereof, these parts being, inrespect to their general construction, of the usual type, excepting as hereinafter pointed out. The shank B is of hollow or tubular form and is designed to embrace the lower end of the'pressenfoot bar B of a sewing-machine, in the usual'manner, and is shown as provided with the usual clamping-screw b for retaining the shank in connection with the resser-foot bar of the machine. The presser-foot B extends horizon- ICC tally from its shank B, and its upper portion b is perfectly flat, in order to insure the re quired clamping or binding action of the spring-arms A and A as will be presently explained. At each side of the lower end of the shank B is formed atransverse horizontal groove 12 these two grooves extending parallel with each other and in the same horizontal plane, and also opening at their front and rear ends at the front and rear sides of the shank B.

In order to connect this device to the presserfoot, the outer ends of the spring-arms A and A are presented to the inner or front ends of the grooves Said arms are pushed longitudinally directly into the grooves until the lateral enlargement a and the oblique portion a come into contact with the inner inclined front part of the presser-foot. When so placed in position, the resilience of the arms A A causes retaining pressure to be exerted at three points: first, downwardly upon the lower walls of the grooves 12*, at the outer ends of said walls, and at the under sides of the bends a secondly, upward against the upper walls of the grooves b at the front ends of said walls and of the arms A A and, thirdly, downward upon the front or outer portionof the upper side of the presser-foot B, by the arm A and lug A. It

i will thus be seen that ample security is provided for retaining the device in connection with the presser-foot and against accidental upward, downwardyor lateral thrusts, while at the same time no material resistance is offered to the voluntary detachment of the device from the presser-foot, by a direct longitudinal pull upon the arm A. Owing to the described convergence of the arms A A said arms are also caused to closely embrace the inner walls of the grooves b and to thus further provide against lateral displacement of the device.

In order to further provide against accidental lateral displacement of the device, two oppositely disposed and downwardly extending spring lugs 19* are provided for the device, one of said lugs being formed on the outer side margin of the arm A, and the other lug being formed on the outer side margin of thelugA'. Whentheconnecting-deviceisin proper position upon the presser-foot, these two lugs firmly embrace the two opposite sides of the presser-foot and effectively resist ainy lateral displacement of the device and a so aid in resisting displacement by upward and also by outward or forward thrusts. At the same time, said lugs offer no resistance to the voluntary disconnection of the device from the presser'foot by a longitudinal inward pull upon the arm A.

As a still further means for preventing lateral displacement of the device,the arm A is shown in Fig. 4 as formed with a longitudinally extending depression a produced by stamping the material of the arm A downward, or in any other suitable manner, so as to form a rib or protuberance on the under side of the arm. This rib is located about midway ofthe length of the arm A, and, when the connecting-device is in proper operative position, the rib enters a longitudinal depression a (see Fig. 7) which is formed in the upper side of the presser-foot B. This depression a is preferably located at the forward end of the upper flat face I) of the presser foot B so as to be open at its outer end for the purpose of more readily receiving therib a as the connecting-device is moved endwise into connection with the presser-foot. It is to be understood that the rib a and the spring lugs 11 may both be used in the same device, but that generally when the rib a is used, the spring-lugs b are omitted, and vice versa.

Referring now to the remaining figures of the drawings a single connecting-arm A is shown as employed for the purpose of the arm A and lug A above described; the lug A being dispensed with, and the inner end of said arm being formed with a lateral offset a corresponding in purpose with the lateral offset a above referred to. For the purpose of illustration merely, a hemmer G is shown as carried at the outer end of the arm A, such hemmer being of the usual form, and being either integral with the arm or secured thereto in any suitable manner, and it being further understood that any other kind of attachment is to be carried by the outer end of the arm A. In this instance, the connectingarm A is arranged to extend longitudinally over the presser-foot B and substantially parallel with the upper surface of the same, and said connecting-arm A is formed with the two spring-arms A and A which extend longitudinally outward from the arm A and which are integrally united to the offset a, by an inclined integral portion a as before. These arms a and afenter the oppositely disposed grooves b in the presser foot, as previously stated, but in this instance, the U-shaped bends a are dispensed with; the arms A and A simply forcing the connecting-arm A downward upon the upper side of the presser-foot B by virtue of the resilience of said arms.

Both in the construction now being de" scribed and in that above described, the grooves b of the presser-foot are located above the level of the upper surface of the presser-foot proper, and the under surface a of the rear part of said presser-foot is located considerably above the lower surface of the front part of said presser-foot, so that the rear part of the presser-toot entirely clears the fabric which is being operated upon by the machine.

In the present construction and in that previously described is shown a notch D extending into the inclined portion a from the opening between the spring-arms A A. The purpose of this notch is to avoid all possibility of contact between the needle of the sewing ICO machine and the connecting device when the latter is being moved, either for the purpose of being secured to or being removed from the presser-foot.-

In the construction now being described, as well as in that previously described, interlocking projections and recesses are provided which serve to engage each other, when the connecting-arm is in proper operative position; the said projections and recesses being of elongated form and extending longitudinally of the arm and presse'r-foot, so as to prevent-lateral displacement of the connecting-arm. The projection 0. of the device shown in Fig. 4 has already been described, and in Figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10, a similar projection a is shown as formed in the arm A near its pointof union with the lateral offset a In Figs. 11 and 12 an equivalent construction is shown, the upper surface of the presserfoot being formed, or provided in any suitable manner, with a longitudinal rib a", while the connecting-arm A is formed in its'under side with a longitudinal recess (1 produced by punching up the metal from beneath.

' WVhen brass is employed in making these con meeting-arms, the projections can be readily produced by stamping orpunching the metal in proper manner, but where steel is used, it is preferable to apply the projections, as separate pieces, to the connecting-bars. Thus in Fig. 10 I have shown a separate longitudinal projection a as secured to the under side of the connecting-arm A by rivets a ever, such separate projections may be soldered or otherwise suitably secured to the connecting-arms, and may project either from the upperor lower sides of the arms. In Fig. 12, the inner margins of the spring-arms A and A are shown as diverging outward so as to engage the similarly divergent inner'walls of the grooves b this construction being preferably employed in connection with interlocking projections and recesses, or with the spring-lugs [2 Obviously, both the projections and recesses and the spring lugs may be dispensed with, if preferred; the downward pressure of the connecting-arm and springarms being, in allof the constructions shown, sufficient to usually prevent lateral displace ment of the device. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a presser-foot provided with oppositely arranged grooves and an upper surface exterior to said grooves at the inner ends thereof, of an elastic attach.- ment carrier comprising a bifurcated portion the two arms of whichpress downwardly at their outer ends upon the lower walls of the grooves and the inner ends of which press upwardly upon the upper walls of the grooves, and'an integral body portion which presses downwardly upon the upper surface of the resser-foot, substantially as described.

How-' 2. The combination with a presser-foot provi (led with oppositely arranged grooves and an upper surface exterior to said grooves at the inner ends thereof, of an elastic attachment carrier comprising a bifurcated portion the two arms of which press downwardly and inwardly at their outer ends upon the lower and inner walls of the grooves, and the inner ends of which press upwardly upon the upper walls of the grooves, and an integral body portion which presses downwardly upon the upper surface of the presser-foot, substan= tially as described.

3. The combination with a presser-foot having substantially horizontal grooves in opposite sides of its shank, the upper surface of the presser-foot portion being without said grooves at the inner ends thereof, of an elase tic attach ment carrier comprising a bifurcated portion the two arms of which press downwardly at their outer ends upon the lower wall of the grooves and upwardly at their inner ends upon the upper wall of the grooves, and an integral body portion which presses downwardly upon said upper surface of the presser-foot proper, and interfitting parts onsaid body portion and presser-foot proper to maintain the carrier against lateral displacement, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the pres'ser-foot provided with the oppositely arranged grooves and having in its upper surface at the outer end thereof the open ended groove, of an attachment carrying shank or arm having a bi- IOO fu rcated portion and being also provided with a lug or projection to enter the said groove and thereby steady the attachment carrying arm, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a presserfoot having substantially horizontal grooves in opposite sides of its shank, the upper surface of the presser-foot proper being without and below the plane of said grooves at the inner ends thereof, of an elastic attachment carrier comprising a bifurcated portion the two arms of which press downwardly at their outer ends upon the lower surface of the grooves and upwardly at their inner ends upon the upper surface of the grooves, an integral body portion pressing downward on the said upper face of the pres'ser-foot proper and bent upward at itsinner endto connect with the bifurcated portion, anda notch extending downwardly into the connecting portion from between the arms of the bifurcated portion, whereby said arms may be entered endwise into the grooves without striking the needleat their base, substantially as described.

In. testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I hereunto affixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. GRAY.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, G. W. HIGGINS, Jr. 

